Swearing-in of governors after an election is supposed to take place on the first Thursday after the tenth day following the declaration of the final results by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) This, is as stated in the Assumption of the Office of Governor Act 2019.
On the day, the governor-elect and his or her deputy will take and subscribe to the oath or affirmation of office as prescribed in the First Schedule section of the act.
The Assumption of the Office of Governor Act 2019, provides for the formation of a special transition committee to spearhead the process of handing over power in the counties. The committee, which is titled the Assumption of the Office of County Governor Committee, is required to publish by notice in the Kenya Gazette and the County Gazette, the date, time and place for the conduct of the swearing-in ceremony.
The law states that the swearing-in of the governor-elect shall occur in a public ceremony before a High Court judge. The Judiciary has appointed 47 judges to preside over the swearing-in of the newly elected county chiefs.
The Governor-elect shall, during the swearing-in ceremony, take and subscribe to the oath or affirmation of office as prescribed in the First Schedule section of the Assumption of the Office of Governor Act 2019. It is important to note that the oath or affirmation shall take place not earlier than 10:00AM and not later than 2:00PM.
It is required by law that a handing over ceremony of the county symbols should be done on that day. The outgoing Governor to hand over the following county symbols to the Governor elect: the county flag, the county coat of arms, the constitution and the county public seal. The Governor –elect will then assume office upon receiving the aforementioned instruments of power.
